Book Review: Heading Over the Hill

Today I’m delighted to be on the blog tour with a book review of Heading Over the Hill by Judy Leigh. @JudyLeigh @BoldwoodBooks @rararesources

Book Cover Notes

Growing old disgracefully and having a grand old time…

Billy and Dawnie may be in their seventies, but that won’t stop them taking chances or starting again. Their grown-up children have families and lives of their own, so now it’s Billy and Dawnie’s turn, and a life near the sea in Devon beckons.

But the residents of Margot Street (or Maggot Street as Dawnie insists on calling it), don’t quite know what to make of their new neighbours. Billy’s loud, shiny and huge Harley Davidson looks out of place next to the safe and sensible Honda Jazz next door, and Dawnie’s never-ending range of outrageous wigs and colourful clothes, means she’s impossible to miss.

As new friendships are formed and new adventures are shared, Billy and Dawnie start winning their neighbours’ affection. And when life teaches them all a terrible lesson, the folks of Margot Street are determined to live every day as if it’s their last.

Judy Leigh returns with a soul-warming, rib-tickling, timeless tale of true love, true friendship and happy-ever-afters.  

My Thoughts

‘Maggot Street? You have to be kidding me, Billy.’

A great opening line for this laugh out loud tale of two seventy-year-old misfit hippies moving to Barnstaple, by the sea.

Billy rents a ramshackle terraced house for six months, whilst he and Dawnie, the love of his life, look for their dream home. Their forever home.

This is a story about neighbours. When Billy and Dawnie arrive at no. 13 Margot Street they certainly give their new neighbours a fright. Pony-tailed larger than life Billy unloads his beloved Harley motorbike and drum kit from the van. Dawnie climbs down from the front seat of the battered transit van, clad in a blonde wig, scarlet sunglasses and colourful outfit and waves at the twitching curtains of the neighbours.

Over the next few days, Billy and Dawnie introduce themselves to their new neighbours. Life for the residents of Margot Street is about to change, big time!

This is the first Judy Leigh book that I’ve read. I was attracted by the book cover initially, two oldies riding off into the sunset, growing old disgracefully. This is definitely me and my better half Dave. 🙂

I found the writing style fun and easy to read and very relatable. Billy’s bike cleaning and tinkering obsession for example are scenes I’m familiar with in my house. Mind you we don’t keep our bike in the hallway!

There were some very funny scenes that had me chuckling throughout the book. The ski-slope trip was just hilarious, poor old Dilly. I had to smile at the ‘behind the curtain’ conversations that took place, like this one”

‘For all I know, Gillian, it’s one of those cakes the hippies make. You know, full of drugs, full of cannabis!’

‘Can of what Malcolm?’

‘Bis’

‘Can of bis?’ Gillian caught her breath. ‘Oh, cannabis. They have made them a cake full of cannabis?’

Brilliant. I could go on and on but I don’t want to spoil this for other readers. So I’ll just leave you with:

My take aways from the book:

• Don’t be quick to judge people. You never know someone’s back story.
• Friends and family are the most important thing in your life, not material things
• Look out for your neighbours, your new best friend could be right on your doorstep

Summary

The characters in this book are so likeable, down to earth and funny. I’d like Dawnie and Billy to move next door to me.

This book will definitely appeal to those ‘over a certain age’, like myself as I’ve entered the Fabulous at 50 Club this year (thanks 2020!).

This is the sort of book you should definitely buy your best friends, the ones you’d like to grow old disgracefully with. 🙂

About The Author

Judy Leigh is the bestselling author of Five French Hens, A Grand Old Time and The Age of Misadventure and the doyenne of the ‘it’s never too late’ genre of women’s fiction.

She has lived all over the UK from Liverpool to Cornwall, but currently resides in Somerset.

Where to Find Judy Online

Website | Twitter | Instagram

Further Information

• Publication Date: 3rd December 2020
• Publisher: Boldwood Books
• Page Count: 338 Pages
• Story Based in: Barnstaple Devon

Where to Buy

Amazon UK

You Might Also Like

• The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley – Six strangers with one thing in common: their lives aren’t always what they make them out to be.
• The Old Duck’s Club by Maddie Please – A rip-roaring, laugh out loud story about the importance of friendship and always, always having fun! 

Thanks to Rachel @rararesources for inviting me on the tour. Also thanks to @JudyLeigh and @BoldwoodBooks for my digital copy of the book.  The views of this book review of Heading Over the Hill are all my own.

Miche xxx

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